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Volume 6 Chapter 2 Part 13

Translation: Kurehashi Aiko
Editing: Team Foxsunes

I was also shuddering to the thought alone what would that man think of me when he sees me in a dress like that. Just that thought alone was enough to make my embarrassed complexion turn pale in an instant. I was sure that once he sees me he will freeze in place from shock, and once he manages to collect himself, I will most probably get yelled at. Or at the very least receive that ice-cold glare accompanied by ‘What do you think you’re wearing?’ kind of question. On the other hand, seeing and hearing a reaction like that from that man would surely be refreshing after witnessing his calm and composed self for so long. And honestly, even if I got yelled at, I would hardly be surprised about it. No matter how good I may look in this dress, there was no way I would feel good and relaxed in it. If I had any choice in the matter, I would have ditched those clothes at the first opportunity possible that would present itself.

Even the Princess herself praised me for looking good and lovely in those clothes, but those words of praise were not enough to improve my mood right about now. After all, it was not the issue of looking good or not.

Speaking of looking good and beautiful, one could not help it but to be attracted towards the Medium who was sitting right next to the Princess. Right now, in the middle of this feast, he looked even more beautiful than back at the desert, with his long hair braided carefully and with decorations made out of feathers and precious stones incorporated in them. His beauty was simply breathtaking. His outfit was even more colorful and eye-catching than before, consisting of many overlapping layers of fabric that created intricate shapes and patterns all over his petite frame. He looked as cute as a doll right now, and I am sure that I was not the only one who would think like that in here.

Both the Princess and the Medium were so good-looking together that they were ending up attracting the attention of everyone around them in here. However, even though the Princess was eagerly engaging in various conversations with the locals, the Medium seemed to be extremely bored with the events taking place around him, only occasionally taking a bite of food that was being placed before him. The contrast was way too obvious 

「…… I wonder if everything is alright in between them over there?」

I muttered those words to myself while looking with worry towards the place where the Princess and the Medium were placed. It was not all that far from where we were sitting, but the distance was enough to not allow for a free conversation. Just like in the royal capital, this place also offered a huge variety of dishes that were considered to be local delicacies that you would not find anywhere else but in here. But somehow, while I was tasting them the taste was coming out to be somewhat dull, even though I knew that you would not find them anywhere else in the world and that I should savor them while I had the chance. So I guess that’s how it is, huh? I guess it is hard to actually be able to properly enjoy a good meal when you are worried about someone. While I was just sitting here and enjoying myself with food and drink, the Princess was left there all alone, forced to fight the harshest of wars called diplomacy with a beaming smile on her face. And even though Heinrich was right next to the Princess, so technically the Princess was not all alone with her burden to carry, somehow I felt that his presence was not nearly enough to give me the peace of mind that I was looking for. I just could not enjoy my meal properly no matter how hard I would try.

Ahh, now I was starting to envy Heinrich that he could sit right next to the Princess and offer her advice or help her when she would need it. I have not forgotten his words from earlier, and judging by the fact that right about now I was unable to do anything for the Princess, I could not get angry at him. For now, his position would allow him to be of more use to the Princess than I would ever hope to be. And if he could really help the Princess and offer her sound advice, then all the better. But it would be a lie on my end if I would say that seeing him being in a place where I could be and doing things that I could be doing was not hurting my feelings at all. I was just so envious of him that I could hardly contain myself. And unlike that man sitting right next to me, I was also unable to help the Princess out from the distance. I could only watch her struggle from the place where I was sitting, and it was driving me crazy from feelings of worry and just how useless I was right about now.

Another thing worthy of mention that was slowly starting to grind my gears was the people around here. They were constantly approaching the Princess and the Medium without stopping, not giving them any time to rest. It was making me so mad that I could only sink my fork into the piece of lamb that was right in front of me in apparent frustration. Are they not aware that a behavior like that is a serious violation of manners of all kinds? If my anger right about now could take a physical form, I am quite sure that it would overflow out of me just like the gravy from that piece of lamb that I have impaled on my fork a moment ago. So just to take my mind off the Princess for a moment, I turn my attention to the piece of lamb, cut a sizable bite with a knife and bring it to my mouth. By the way, I know that I digress, but for the purpose of eating you were allowed to remove the face veil, since it would end up getting in the way of food on its way to your mouth. So at least there was some silver lining to the banquet.

When I take a bite of the meat, I can feel its juices and flavors gradually starting to spread all over my tongue and palate. I know that it must be delicious beyond belief, but at the same time I cannot really taste that deliciousness.  It was all the more depressing, because even though I knew that I could not feel the flavor of the food, the things that were being presented to us looked so mouth-watering that it was literally impossible to contain yourself from tasting them all. Just as I let out a deep sigh of regret, I could feel someone gently tapping my stiff shoulder.

「Filmina, you have some meat juice on your cheek.」

「Ara, thank you so much.」

Next thing I know there are some slender and white fingers reaching out towards my cheek and wiping off the droplets of the lamb sauce from it. When I turned towards where the fingers had come from, I was met with the gentle gaze of that man’s dark eyes.

「You should do your best to try and calm yourself down. After all, there is no need for you to think that you can make everyone’s troubles go away just like that.」

 It was simply amazing just how clear and gorgeous this man’s eyes were when he was made to wear a hooded robe indoors, just so that he could hide away his black hair. It was also amazing that all it took for that man to calm me down was to run his fingertips on my cheek. I do not think that anyone else in this world would be able to achieve the same result with a single action just like that. It was something that this man, and this man only was able to achieve.

 Originally we wanted for that man to give up his robe and try some of the local clothes himself, but he was pretty adamant on not wanting to give up his hooded robe no matter what. Apparently he did not trust the servants enough to take care of it, so he decided that the robe stays. Also, as soon as it was decided that he would keep his robe on, it was also decided that we shall be seated some distance from the Princess, contrary to the initial plan of being situated right next to her. The reason for that being that with his tremendous magical power that man would be able to protect the Princess from harm’s way from any place in the room. Of course, that was also the idea of Public Affairs. For me it seemed really weird of a thing to decide, but that much was true at the very least: the distance was of no concern for that man. Just like that the feast has begun and every one of us was left to our own devices for the time being.  

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